Strawberry plant called &#39;rotem&#39;

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘Rotem’. ‘Rotem’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the Hod Hasharon, Sharon costal plain, Israel, and is primarily characterized by:
         1. Difference in size between primary and secondary fruit.   2. Semi-erect fruiting trusses.   3. Firm fruit.   4. High yield.   5. Low acidity.   6. Tolerance to powdery mildew.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Fragaria ananassa

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Rotemi’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘Rotemi’. The new strawberry ‘Rotemi’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventors at Hod Hasharon, Israel. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new strawberry varieties with quality fruit, high yield and tolerance to diseases. ‘Rotemi’ is a result of a controlled cross made by the inventors in 2005 of female parent ‘EF 14’ (unpatented) and male parent ‘EF 7’ (unpatented). The parentage of ‘EF14’ and ‘EF7’ is unknown.

The new strawberry ‘Rotemi’ was discovered and selected by the inventors as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Hod

Hasharon, Israel. After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolons and was extensively tested over the next several years in Hod Hasharon, Israel. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new variety are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Rotemi’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the Sharon coastal plain, Israel (32 degrees latitude) and to similar climatic regions. This region provides the needed growing conditions of autumn with high temperatures that promote primary plant and earliness of fruit production; and mild winter with moderate temperatures and many sunny days with low humidity, maintaining plant vigor and fruit quality during the production months.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Rotemi’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

-   -   1. Difference in size between primary and secondary fruit.     -   2. Semi-erect fruiting trusses.     -   3. Firm fruit.     -   4. High yield.     -   5. Low acidity.     -   6. Tolerance to powdery mildew.

Plants of the new strawberry variety ‘Rotemi’ differ from plants of the parents ‘EF 14’ and ‘EF 7’ in the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘Rotemi’ ‘EP 14’ ‘EF 7’ Fruit size Large Large Medium Marketable yield High High Medium Time of flowering Early Regular Early Firmness of the skin firm Firm Medium Plant size Medium Large Medium Average number of stolons Many Few Medium Attitude of fruiting truss Semi-Erect Semi-Erect Prostrate

‘Rotemi’ has been compared to the ‘Yuval’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,388) and the ‘Tamar’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,135) and has been found to be distinct therefrom. The fruit of ‘Rotemi’ is lighter in color and more firm than both ‘Yuval’ and ‘Tamar’. ‘Rotemi’ has also been compared to the ‘Shaked’ variety (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/231,192) and has been found to be distinct therefrom, in that ‘Rotemi’ has been found to produce fewer stolons than ‘Shaked’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘Rotemi’, at various stages of development as true as reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the botanical description, which accurately describes the color of ‘Rotemi’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘Rotemi’ were taken in Hod Hasharon, Israel, and are approximately 3 to 7 months old.

FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘Rotemi’ taken in the month of March 2008.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of a typical leaf structure of ‘Rotemi’ taken in the month of December 2007.

FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘Rotemi’ taken in the month of March 2008.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of mature fruit of ‘Rotemi’ taken in the month of December 2007.

FIG. 5 shows typical external mature fruit characteristics of ‘Rotemi’ taken in the month of March 2008.

FIG. 6 shows typical internal mature fruit characteristics of ‘Rotemi’ taken in the month of March 2008.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘Rotemi’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new strawberry variety ‘Rotemi’, unless otherwise noted, taken during the 2007-08 growing season in Hod Hasharon, Israel. The observations, measurements and values were taken from plants of ‘Rotemi’ dug from a low-elevation nursery during May-September 2007, and planted approximately September 20 and later. Plants of the new strawberry variety ‘Rotemi’ were grown under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

Growing conditions at the nursery: Mother plants were planted in the beginning of May in the field nursery at 2.5 m×2.5 m distance. Combination of overhead and drip irrigation with addition of fertilizers was used. The average day/night temperatures during the establishment of the daughter plants, between June and August, were 32° C./18° C. respectively. Runners appeared beginning in June, and produced daughter plants until mid-September. The daughter plants were then collected and planted directly in the field.

Growing conditions at the fruit production field: The bare rooted plants were rinsed, dipped in Octav (prochloraz-manganese) 2 g/L solution to avoid anthracnose, then planted in raised beds with overhead irrigation in 4 rows at 30 cm apart. Distance between plants within rows was 32 cm. During the first month, no fertilizers were added, due to the addition of 60-100 m³/hectare compost during field preparation. About 4 weeks after planting the beds were covered with silvery-black, 30 micron polyethylene. The young plants were pulled out through the pre-prepared holes. From this point on, the plants were irrigated with a drip system with a supply of additional fertilizers, as are typically used in agricultural practice. By the end of October the beds were covered with transparent, 80 micron thick polyethylene tunnels. The average day (max) and night (min) temperatures during the cultivation season are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Average August to March maximum and minimum temperatures, during the main strawberry growing season Maximum and minimum average monthly temperatures In Tel-Mond station, Sharon region, during 1999/2000, 2000/2001, 2001/2002 seasons.

During winter in Israel, most days have full sunlight; on average, there are only 82 rainy days from August to June, producing about 620 mm precipitation. The commercial fields were not treated with growth regulators, and were regularly irrigated and fertilized according to need during fruit production.

Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from 3 years of data collected from the 2005/6 through 2007/8 growing seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted.

Quantified measurements are expressed as an average of measurements taken from a number of individual plants of the new variety. The measurements of any individual plant or plant part of the new variety may vary from the stated average.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon at Bet Dagan, Israel.

The approximate age of the observed plants is 1 to 10 months.

The following is a detailed botanical description of the fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower and pest/disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘Rotemi’.

-   Fruit:     -   -   Color of mature fruit.—red RHS 44 B.         -   Color of internal flesh.—red RHS 44 B, orange-red RHS 34 A,             and white RES 155 D.         -   Length.—50-60 mm.         -   Width.—40-45 mm.         -   Ratio length/width.—longer than broad.         -   Calyx diameter.—28-33 mm.         -   Average weight.—30 grams.         -   Achene color.—yellow green 145 B.         -   Number of achenes per berry.—240-320.         -   Achene size.—average 1.2 mm.         -   Weight of 1000 achenes.—0.5 gram.         -   Marketable yield (gm/plant).—about 1000 grams.         -   Fruit size.—large.         -   Predominant shape.—conical.         -   Difference in shapes between primary and secondary             fruit.—slight.         -   Band without achenes.—narrow.         -   Unevenness of surface.—weak.         -   Evenness of color.—slightly uneven.         -   Glossiness.—medium.         -   Insertion of achenes.—level with surface.         -   Insertion of calyx.—level.         -   Attitude of the calyx.—reflexed.         -   Size of calyx in relation to fruit diameter.—same size.         -   Adherence of calyx.—strong.         -   Firmness of flesh.—firm.         -   Hollow center expression.—weak.         -   Flavor.—good.         -   Soluble solids (% brix).—7-9.         -   Time of first flowering.—early, from mid-October.         -   Time of first harvesting.—early, from mid-November.         -   Harvest period.—November to June.         -   Type of bearing.—partially remontant. -   Plant:     -   -   Height.—average 14.4 cm (in March).         -   Spread.—average 38 cm (in March).         -   Size.—medium.         -   Habit.—flat globose.         -   Density.—medium.         -   Vigor.—medium, more vigorous than ‘Tamar’ (U.S. Plant Pat.             No. 11,135). -   Stolon:     -   -   Average number per plant.—many, ranging from 100 to 800 in             Israel in summer Fruiting field few.         -   Color.—yellow green 145 C.         -   Anthocyanin intensity.—weak.         -   Diameter.—4-5 mm.         -   Length.—10-45 cm.         -   Pubescence.—medium. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Color of upper surface dark green 137 A Color of under             side medium green, between RHS 138 B and RHS 138 C Shape in             cross section slightly concave Interveinal blistering medium             to strong Glossiness weak to medium Number of leaflets three             only.         -   Terminal leaflet.—Length about 8 cm Width 7-9 cm             Length/width ratio as long as broad Serrations/leaf average             19 Size medium-large Shape of base rounded Shape of teeth             rounded.         -   Petiole.—Length 13-17 cm Diameter 3-4 cm Petiolule length             6-10 mm Pubescence medium to strong Attitude of hairs             outwards.         -   Stipule.—Length 14-16 mm Width 9-11 mm Anthocyanin             coloration absent Color yellow green 145 B. -   Fruiting truss:     -   -   Length.—about 9 cm.         -   Position relative to foliage.—above.         -   Pubescence.—medium.         -   Anthocyanin intensity.—none.         -   Attitude at first pick.—prostrate. -   Flower:     -   -   Petal color.—Mature (upper) white RHS 155 B Mature (lower)             white RHS 155 B.         -   Petal shape.—Overall rounded Apex rounded Base rounded.         -   Petal length.—12-13 mm.         -   Petal width.—14-15 mm.         -   Petal length/width ratio.—broader than long.         -   Number of petals/flower.—5, sometimes 6.         -   Sepals color.—Mature (upper) green 137 B Mature (lower)             green 138 B.         -   Sepal shape.—Overall obovate Apex generally rounded.         -   Sepal length.—13-15 mm.         -   Sepal width.—7-8 mm.         -   Sepal length/width ratio.—longer than broad.         -   Number of sepals/flower.—10 sometimes 11 or 12.         -   Corolla diameter.—22-30 mm.         -   Size of calyx relative to corolla.—larger.         -   Size of inner calyx relative to outer calyx.—same size.         -   Relative position of petals.—overlapping. -   Pest and disease reactions:     -   -   Powdery mildew.—tolerant (field tolerance). 

1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘Rotem’ as herein described and illustrated. 